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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1933-02-16, Page 6(Continued, from last week.) "She was a very great galleon," I replied, with a sigh for the good ship that was gone. A moment's silence, during which they all lookedat me. "A galleon," then said Paradise softly. "They that sailed her yesterday ars to -day at the bottom of the sea," I continued. "Ailackadayl so are one hundred thousand pezos of gold, three thousand bars of silver, ten frails of pearls, jewels uncounted, cloth of gold and cloth of silver. She was a very rich prize." The circle sucked in their breath, at the bottom of the sea?" quer- ied uer-is l ed •C with gloating eyes fixed n.m the sn..lin_ water. "Nat one 'ez i left, not ane little, little pearl ?" I shock -my head and heaved a pro - 1 a1'. "The treasure is gone.' I i• I. "and the men with whom I t. I am a caetsia wilt it's -:1 i n r sta..,. I take;eau, f, _:1;1, and crew with- sus. T: e rhaa aaae 1 wit. wander. hen strange -sails arose. Red G:1 broke .. relic,: . anory laughter, while Oa S, n': r.'glare/ like a catamount a ), to speing. y:,u wand] he our captain? -aid Paradise, picking up another shell, and p _ ring it upon a hand as fine and small as a cvcman's, "Faith, you might go farther and fare worse," I answered. and began to hum a tune. When I had finished it, "I ant Kirby," I said, and waited to see if that shot should' go wide or through the hull. For two minutes the dash of the surf and the cries of the wheeling sea fowl made the only sound in that part .of the world; then from those half-clad rapscallions arose a shout of "Kirby!"—a shout in which the three leaders did not join. That one who looked a gentleman rose from the sand and made me a low bow. "Well met, noble captain," he cried in those his honey tones. "You will doubtless remember me who was with you that time at Maracaibo when you sunk the galieasses. Five years have passed since then, and. yet I see you ten years younger and three inches taller." touched once at the Lucayas, and found the spring de Leon sought," I said. "Sure the waters have a mar- velous effect, and if they give not eternal youth at least renew that which we have "lost." "Truly a potent aqua vitae," he re- marked, still with thoughtful melan- chdly, "I see that it hath changed your eyes from black to gray." "It hath that peculiar virtue," I said, 'that it can make black seem, white." The man with the woman's mantle drawn about him now thrust himself from the rear to the front rank. "That's not Kirby!" he bawled. "He's no more Kirby than I am Kirby! Didn't I sail with Kirby from the Summer Island to Cartagena and. back again? He's a cheat, and, I am going to cut his heart out!" He was making at me with a long knife, when I whipped out my rapier. "Am I not Kirby, you dog?" . I cried, and ran him through the shoul- der. iEe dropped, and his fellows surged forward with a yell. "Yet a little pati- ence, my masters!" said ,P'aradise in a raised voice and with genuine amusement in his eyes. "It' is true that Kirby with 'whom 1 andr our friend there on the ground sailed was somewhat Short an -d as swart as a raven, besides having a'cut across his face that had taken away a part 'of. his lip and the top Of his ear, and. that this gentleman who an'nhounces. himself as Kirby hath none of Kirby', marks. iB.trt we are fair and generous and open to conviction"- "He'll have to convince my cut- lass!" roared Red Gil. I turned upon. hili. "If I do con- vince it, what then?" I demanded. "If I convince your sword, you .or 'Spain, and yours•, Sir 'Black and Silver?" The 'Spaniard stared. "I was. the best sword in Lima," he said .stiffly. "I and my Toledo will not change our minds." "Let 'him try to convince Phradise; he's got no reputation as a swords- man!" cried out the gravedigger with the broken head. IA roar of laughter followed this suggestion, and I gathered from it and from the oaths and allusions to this or that time and peace that Para- dise was not without reputation. I turned to him. "If I fight you three, one by one, and win, am I Kirby?" He regarded the shell with which he was toying with a thoughtful s:vile, held it up that the light might "r ike through its rose and pearl, then saa,ited it to dust between iiiis fingers. "Ay," he said with an oath. "If you tc:. ;,aa:n the cutlass of Red Gil, the best blade of Lima, and the sword of t .dile:. gnu may call yourself the t,.. if yen piea•e, and we will all. snlhscribe to it" I lifted nty hand. "'I am to have fair As one man that crew of desperate villains swore that the odds should be only three to one. 13y this the whole matter had presented itself to them s an entertainment mare diverting than bullfight or bear -baiting. They that follow the sea, whether honest teen or black -hearted knaves, have in their composition a certain childlike- ness that makes them easily turned, easily led, and' easily pleased. The wind of their pas's'ion shifts quickly from point to point, one moment blowing a hurricane, the :next sinking to a happy-go-lucky summer breeze. I have seen a little think convert a crew on the point of mutiny into a set of rollicking, good-natured souls who —until the wind veered again—would not hurt a fly. So with these. They spreaid themselves into a circle, squat- ting or kneeling or standing upon the white sand in the bright sunshine, their sinewy hands that s'h'ould have been ingrained red clasped over their knees, or, arms akimbo, resting upon their hips, on their scoundrel faces a broad smile, and in their eyes that ;had looked an nameless horrors a pleas- urable expectation as of spectators in a playhouse awaiting the entrance of the players. "There is really no good season why we should gratify your whim, said Paradise, still amused. "But it wiM serve to pass the' time. We will fight you, one by one." "And if I win?" He laughed, `"Then, en the honor of a gentleman, you are Kirby a'n.d our captain. If you 'lose, we will leave you where you stand for the gulls to bury." "A bargain,' I said, and drew my sword, "I first!" roared Red Gil. "God's wounds! there will need no esoond!" As he spoke he swung his cutlass and made an arc of blue :flame. The weapon became in his hands a flail, terrible to look upon, making 'light- nings and whistling in 'the air, but in reality not so deadly as it seemed. The fury of his onslaught would have beaten down the guard of any mere swordsman, but that I was not. A man, knowing his weakness and insuf- ficiency in many and many a thing, may yet know his strength' in one or two and his modesty take no 'hurt. I was ever master of my sword, and it did the thing I would have it do. Moreover, as 3 fought I saw her as I had last seen her, standing against the bank of sand, her dark hair, half braided, drawn over her 'bosom and •hanging to her knees, Her eyes haunted me, and my lips yet felt the touch of her hand, I fought well,— how well the lapsing of oaths and laughter into breathless silence bore witness. 'The ruffian against wham. I was pitted began to draw his breath in gasps. He was a scoundrel not fit to i thy of a THE SEAFORTH NEWS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1933. gentlelntan's steelI presently ran hint through with as little ,compunction and as great a desire to be quit of a dirty job as if he had been a'm'ad dog. He fell, ,and a 1itu1'e later, While k was engaged with the Spaniard, his .soul went to that then which had 'long' gap- ed, -Inc it To 'tho'se his companions his death was as slight a thing as would their ihave, been to 'him. In the eyes of the two remaining would- be leaders he was a stumbling -block removed, and to the squatting, open - Mouthed, aon1monalty his talking off weighed not a feather against the solid entertainment I was affording them. I was now a better man than Red Gila—that was all, The Spaniard was a more ,formic able 'antagonist. The (best blade Of Lima was by no means .to be de spise'd; hut Lima is a small place, ' and its .blades can .be -numbered. The sword that for three years had been counted the best in all She Low Coun- tries was its better, But I fought fasting and for the s'eco'nd time that morning, hs'a maybe the odds were not so great. I' 'woun'd'ed hint slightly. and presently s'tr'cceed'ed in ,disarrning him. "Am I Kirby?" I demanded, with my pointe at his breast. "Kirby, of course, senor," he ans- wered with a sour smile, his eyes ,uposs the gleaming .blade. S lowered 'my;point and we bowed to each pother, atfer which he sat down upon the sand and applied himself to. stanching the bleeding from his wound. The pirate ring gave hien no attention, hut stared at 'me instead. I was now -a better man than the S'pan'iard. IT'he man in black and s'i'lver rose and removed his 'doublet, folding f' very carefully, inside out, that the sated might not injure the velvet, they drew his rapier, looked at it lovingly made it bend until point and hilt well. nigh met, and faced me with a bow. "You have fought twice, and must be weary," he -said. "Will you not take breath before wb engage, or will yirir lona rest afterward suffice you?" '"I will rest aboard my ship," I inade reply. "And as I am in a hurry to be gone we won't delay." Gar blades had no sooner crossed than I knew that in this last en- counter I should need every whit of my skill, all my wit, audacity, and strength, I had met my equal, and he came to it fresh and I jaded. I clenched my teeth and prayed with all my heart; I set her face before me, and thought if I should fail her to what ghastly fate she might 'come, and .I fought as II had never fought before. The sound of the surf be- came a roar in any ears, the sunshine an intolerable blaze of light; the blue above and around seemed suddenly beneath ply feet as well. We were fighting high in the air, and, had fought thus for ages. I knew that he made no thrust a did not parry, no feint I could not interpret. I knew that my eye was more quick to see, my brain to conceive, .and my (rand to execute than ever before; but it was as though I held that knowledge of some other, and I myself was far a'w'ay, at Weyanoke, in the minister's garden, in the haunted wood, piny - Where save on that 'barren islet. I heard 'him swear. under his breath, and in the 'face I had set before me the eyes brightened. As if she had loved me 4 fought dor her' with alt my powers of body and mind . He swore again, and my heart 'laughed within ine. The sea now roared less loudly, sand I felt the good earth be- neath my feet. Slowly but surely I wore him out. 'His breath came short, the sweat stood upon his forehead,' and still II deferred my attack. 335 made the thrust of a boy of fifteen, and I smiled 'as I put it b'y. "W'hy don't you end it?" he breath- ed. "Finish and be d—d to youl" 'For answer I sent 'his sword flying over the nearest hillock of sand. "Ami I Kirby?" II said. He fell back against the heaped-up sand and leaned there, panting, with his hand to his side. "Kirby or devil," he replied, "Have it your own. way." I turned to the now highly excited rabble. "Shove the boats off, hall a dozen of you!" I ordered. "Some of you 'others take up that carrion there and throw it into the sea. The gold upon it is for your pain's. You there with the wounded shoulder you have no great hurt. I'll ,salve it with ten pieces of eight from the captain's own. Share, the next prize we take." A Shout of acclamation arose that scared the sea fowl, They 'who so short a time before had been, ready to tear me limb ,from limb now with the greatest apparent delight hailed me as icapttaiu. How soon they might' revert totheir-former nsood was a question that I found not worth while' to propound to .myself, IB'y this time the man in black and silver had recovered his breath anl, equanimity. "Have you no commis- sion with which to honor me, no'b'le calptain?" he asked in gently reproach- ful tones, "Heave you forgot how often you werewont to employ me in those sweet days when your eyes were black?" • "By no means, Master 'Paradise;" 3 said courteously. "I desire your cam pany an'd that of the gentlem'a'n from Lima. You will gowith nee bo (bring: up the rest of my panty. 'The three gentlemen of the broleea 'head,. the busily ruff, whioh `I 'protest is vastly becolii'ing, and the woundedshoul,det; ec'oort ns." "The nest ,of your Party?" said Par- adise softly. 'Ay," 1I answered nonchalantly.. "They are down the beach and a- round the point warming them'se'lves by a fire wlhich ,this piled -up sand hi'd'es front you. Despite the sunshine it is a Ibiitinlg air, Let us be going! This island 'wearies, and I am anxi- ous to be on board Mile 'and away." "So small an escort scarce befits, so great a captain," he said, "We will all attend you." ,Osie and all 'started fo'r- ward. II caIllled l to .and ,gave utterance to all the oaths II had heard in . the wars. "'I entertain you Inc,my stub - ordinate whom I oom'm'atud, and not' who 'commands. mel" 'I cried, When m'y mem'ory failed me. "As ^i or you, you dogs, ,who . wound question yoeir captain and hill doi'n'gs, stay where: you "ate, if you would not be lesso:ned in earnest!" iSiheyer ,audacity is at times the shur- eststeed a man can bestride. Now at least it did, me good service. With oaths and grunts af' admiration the pirates stayed where, they were, and went abo'u't their business of launching the boats and stri'pp'ing the .body of Red (Gil, while the man in black and silver, the Spaniard, the two grave- diggers, the knave with . the wounded shoulder; and myself walked briskly up the beach, With these ,five at my heels I strode up to the dying fire and to those who. had sprung to their feet at our approach. "Sparrow," I said easily, "luck being with us as usual, I hare fallen in 'with a party of rovers. 1 have told them who I am, -that Kirby, to wit, whom air in- jurious world calls the blackest pir- ate unhanged,--and have recounted to them how the great galleon which I took 'solve months ago went down yesterday with all on board, you and I with these others being the sole survivors. By dint of a little persua- sion they have elected me their cap- tain, and We will go on board direct- ly and set sail for the Indies, a hunt- ing ground which we never 'should have left. You 'need not look .so blank; you shall be my mato and riglht hand still," iI turned to the five who formed try escort. "This gentle- men, is my mate, 'Jeremy Sparrow by name, who hath a taste for 'divinity that in no wise interferes with his taste for a galleon or a guarda costa. This man, Diccon Demon -by name, was of my •cr:ew, The gentleman with-' out a sward is my prisoner, taken by nye from the last ship I sunk. Haw he, an Englishman, came to be upon a Spanish bark I have not found lei- sure to inquire. The lady .is my pris- oner, also," "Sure by rights she should be goal- er and hold all men's h'eants in ward," said Paradise, with a law how to my unfortunate captive. iWthile ,he spoke a most remarkable transformation was going on. The minister's grave, rugged, and deeply lined face smoothed itself and shed ten years at least; in the eye's that I had seen wet with noble tears a laughing devil now lurked, while his strong mouth became a lo'os'e -lipped, devil-maycare ane. His head with its audeole of bushy, grizzled• hair set itself jauntily upon one side, and from it and from his face: and his whole great frame breathed a wicked jollity quite in'descri'bable. "Odslbodiirins, ;captain!" 'he cried, "Kiirlby'Is heck'—'tw'il'l pass into a saw! Aszooies! and so you''re captain once more, and. I'm mate •once more, and we've :a ship once .more, and we're off once mord To sail the Slpalndsh Main, And give the Spaniard pain, !Heave ho, bully boy, heave hod By'r Tahiti! I'm too dry .to sing. It will take all the wine of Xeres in the next galleon 'to unparch my tongued' OHIAIPIT,FIR XXIIII'I In Which We WrLte'U'pon The Sand D'ay after day the wind- 'filled our sails and sang in the rigging, and day after day', we sailed through blue seas l toward the m'a'gic of the south. Day after day a hiltless and voluptuous world seemed too idle for any dream of wrong, and day .after day ,we'wham a strange tarn of (Fortune's wheel had placed upon a pirate ship ,heltl our lives in our hands, and 'walked so close ,with Death'' that at length that very intimacy did breed contempt, ' I•t was not a t'iose to think; it was a time. to act, to laugh and make otiens laugh, to: baluster and brag, - to es- trange :sword and seabibard, to 'p'lay. one's 'hand with a fine unconcern, but all the time to watch, watch., watch,. day in and • day Out, every minute of every'lvour. That .ship ibeca•me .a stage, and we, the actors, should have,heen applauded ' to the echo, How well we played let 'witness the 'fact :that the ship came bo the Indlies, with m'e for captain and the minister for mate, and with the woman that was ion bdard unlharm'ed; nay, reverenced like a queen, ,The great cabin .was hers, and the pool deck; we' made'far her a fantastic state with doffing of hats and bowi'ngs ,and : backward 'steps. We were her guard,—t'h'e gentlemen of the Queen, -I- and my Lord Car- nal, the minister and Dimon, and we kept between her and the rest sof the ship. We did oar : best, and ,our 'best was very much. When I think of the songs. the m'issister :sang;: of the roams .of laughter that went, up -fram the loung- ing pirates 'when, silting astride one of the mein -deck guns, he made his voice call to. them, now from the hold, now from the stern gallery, now from the masthead, now from the gilt sea maid upon the prow, .I laugh too. !Sometimes a space was cleared for him, and ,he played to them as to' the pit at Blackfriars, They laughed and wept .and aware with delight, — all save the ;Spaniard, who was ever like a thundercloud, and Para'di'se, wlho only smiled like some languid, side- h-., I. -rd. Tree, was wine on board, and i..,r .: r the long, idle days, when Oa rel in the rigging like a Sage a;e, and there was never a cloudin the: sky, aiid the galleons were still far sway, the pirates gamb- led and drank. Diccon diced' with them, and taught them all the oaths of a free company. So much wine, and no more, should they have; when they frowned, 'I let them know their frowning and their half -drawn knives mattered no doit to me. Lt was their whim—a huge jest of which they could never have enough — still to make believe that they sailed under Kirby. Lest it should spoil tate jest, and while the jest outranked all other entertainment, -they obeyed as though I had been indeed that 'fierce sea wolf. Time passed, though it passed like a tortoise, and we came to the !Lu- cayas, to the outposts of the vast hunting 'ground of Spaniard and pir- ate and buccaneer, the 'fringe of that zone of beauty and villainy and fear, and sailed slowly past the islands, looking for our prey. (To be Continued.) Clean and Sterilize All Dairy Utensils The keeping quality of milk de pends directly .upon the number of bacteria present and this in turn de- pends upon the 'tho'rough'ness with which dairy utensils have been clean- ed and sterilized. The use of . live steam ar scalding with boiling water is always effective providing it is av- ailable in. suffi'cien't volume, 'but as a general rule the quantity available on the average farm is ina'dequate for effective results. 'Lt is Inc this reason that the use of chlorine h in suitable form is recommen'd'ed by bacterio- logical experts, It acts rapidly in cold water, and is cheaper and more con- venient than the heat treatmenrt, gen- erally recommended. When properly employed chlorine sterilization gives excellent results and the practi'ce,al- ready general among milk and other food plants is spreading to the dairy 1arms. Worms sap the strength and -un- dermine the 'vitality of children. Strengthen then' by using ''other Graves' 'Worm Exterminator to drive out the parasites, A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail it with $1 for a six weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR Published by Trus CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PvaLrsntnta SOCIETY Boston, Massachusetts, D. 8. A. In it YOU Will find tho daily good. news of the world, from 1ts. 888 special writers, as well as departments devoted to -women', and. children's Interests, sports, musk., finance, e6oeation, radio, eto You will bo glad to. welcome 11110 Ears home so fearless an advocate of peace and prohibition. And don't miss Snubs, Our \nog, and the Sundial and the other feature's. - ` THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Sack Bay Station, Boston, Mass. Please' send me a ole weeks' trial subscription.. 1 enclose one dollar (st)., - (None. ',Some print) (Address) . 5, (Town) (State) tiA PRIOFESSIOiNAL CARDS Medical DR: H: HUGH 110!SS,,, Physician and Surgeon. Late of London Hoa pita!, London, England, Speoisl attention to diseases of the eye, eau, nose and throat. Office and resi- dence behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone, No. 5; Residence Phone 104. IDR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth' Office and residence, Goderich altrejet, east of the United C'hurc'h. Coroner for the. County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, DIR. F. J. R, EOiR)STER-J-Eye, Ear Nose and. Throat. Gr'advate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1899. Late Aissistant New York Ophthal- mic and Arirai' Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Squa're throat h•ospi- tats, London, England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday in each month, from 11a.m.,to 3 p.m. DR. W. C. SP!TOAIT.—Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, tiniviersity' of We's'tern Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office id rear of Aber -hart's drug store, ISea'forbh. Phone 90, Hours 1.30=4 p.m., 7.30 -9 p.m. Other hours by, appointment. Dental DIR. J. A. 'MLT'NN, Successor to. Dr, R. R, Ross, .graduate of North- western ` University, . Chicago, Ill. Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sill's° hardware, Main St., Seaforth, Phone 151. DR. F. J. BECHELY, graduate. Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith'n grocery, Main St., .Seaforth. 'Phones, office 185W, residence 185J. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed, WATSON AND REID52 REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succsaors to James 'Watson) MAiIIN ST., SEA,FOiRTH, ONT. All kinds' of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE : McKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Col FlA1RIM AINID IISGLATE'D TO'W'N PROPERTY, ON Y, INSURBD Officers — John Bennewies, &rod- hagen, President; Jas, Connolly, 'God- erich, Vice -Pres.; iD. F. McGregor, Seaforth No. 4, !Sec.-Treas. Direotors- tGeo. R. McCartney, Sea.. forth No. 3; Alex. Broadfoot, Sea - forth No. 3; James Evans, Seatertb No. '5;'Robt. Ferris, Blyth No. 1;. Jas. S'holdice, Walton No. 4; John Pepper, Brucefie'ld;. William 'Knox, :Landes - borough. Agents—Jas. Watt,'BIyth No. 1; W. E. iHin'c'h'ley, :Seaforth; J. A, Murray, Seaforth No. 3; W. J. Yeo, 'Clinton No, .3; R. G. IJarmuth, Bornholm. Auditors — Jas.'Kerr, Seafcrthi Thos. Moylan, Seaforth No. 5. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will, be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named: officers ad- dressed to their respective post offices. The Man With Asthma, . almost longs for death to end his sufferin'g. He sees ahead only years' of endless torment with intervals of 'test which are themse'lves •fraught with 'never ceasing fear of renewed attacks: Let him turn to Dr. J. D. 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